Aucoin honored for 35-point month

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. … The American Hockey League announced today that Hershey Bears center Keith Aucoin has been named the Reebok/AHL Player of the Month for January. Aucoin erupted for 35 points in 14 games on the month, registering 12 goals and 23 assists along with a plus-11 rating.

Aucoin averaged 2.50 points per game in January, a scorching pace that vaulted him to the top of the league leaderboard in goals, assists and points. Among his 10 multiple-point performances were five three-point efforts and three four-point nights, and he capped the month by becoming the 42nd player in AHL history to reach 600 career points with a goal and two assists on Jan. 31 vs. Binghamton. Aucoin had at least one assist in every game, and he enters February with a 16-game assist streak – one game shy of the all-time AHL record. He also appeared in his fifth consecutive AHL All-Star Classic last month and scored his first career All-Star goal.

In recognition of his achievement, Aucoin will be presented with an etched crystal award prior to an upcoming Bears home game.

Aucoin sits first in the AHL with 28 goals, 43 assists and 71 points in 41 games for Hershey in 2009-10. He ranks second with seven game-winning goals – including three in January – and fourth with his plus-26 rating. In 546 games over nine AHL seasons, Aucoin has registered 187 goals and 413 assists (good for 24th all-time) for 600 points. He has added eight goals and 18 assists in 74 career NHL games, including a goal and four assists in nine contests with Washington this year.